Air track-sanding apparatus.



W.,A. SAU'LT.

AIR TRACK SANDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1911.

1,028,079. Patented May 28, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M7117 7@ g jwn ses' E510. wgul W. A. SAULT.

AIR TRACK SANDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.21, 1911.

1,028,079. Patented May 2s, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED-STATES Parana fornitori.

WILLIAM A. sAUL'r, or WORCESTER, aress'eenosnrrs.'

AIR 'rnAex-sA'NnING Arran-Actus.-

Specification of Letters' Patent.

Patented May 28,1912.

Allbplieation filed Lrugiist 21, 19114. Serialv No. 645,267.

To all whom t may concern: Be it known that I, VILLIAM A. SAULT, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVorcester, inthe county of lllorcester and State'of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Air Track-Sanding Apparatus,

I of which'the following is a specification. a.

' nections whereby .the air from the systemv y The principal objectsl ""of this invention are to provide a practicable, simple and efficient form of sanding device especially suit- "ahle or street cars hut applicable in partat least torailway locomotives; to provide anA 'improved construction of. receptacle for the sand arranged to sift the 'sand .as it vis thrown into it and to loosen thefsand at the bott-0in by compressed air operated meansv to prevent clogging; to provide valve colican be forced through the sand supplying pipes in such a way as to force the sand ,therealong with great rapidity and uni- .'forinity, and means whereby when this con-A nection `is'tui'ned off orV on another connection will be turnedon momentarily to clear the pipes; to provide animproved torni o'f nozzle for use in both parts thereof and capable of general use; to provide improved and simplified means whereby the connection between "the receptacle and the .discharge pipe above describedl can be cut otl to perniit repairs to. either part; to .provide an exceedingly simple arrangement'for (lividing` the current of sand and air and diret-ting part of it to each rail; to v,provide an impro-ved form Aof flexible outlet nozzle which will permit the discharge of air through the'wallsthe'i'eo'f so asY to allow the sand-tov be4 deposited on the rails without any more velocity lthan is due to the fall 0i the sand through a short space thus leaving' the saine in a quiescent state onthe rails parts of the instead-.ofv blowing it therefrom as is the market. A The invention also involves uimprovenients casev with` inany typesv ofsanders on; the

in details- Aof construction -in the variousafter..l

. Reference is to be had to the accoiiipan v.x ing drawings in which-l Figure 1 is a side view of a poi-tionfotl a street car'showinga preferred embodiment'l of this invention appliedthereto. Fie'. is an enlarged side view o t the sanding device showing thepartsin section. Fig.- 3 is an device, as vwill appear hereiir.

enlarged central vertical sectional View1 of the inain controllingF valve therefor. Fig.

4 is a sectional vview v'thereof on the line of Fig; 3.

valve operating handle. Fig. 6 is an .end

elevation ofthe sand receptacle showing-the' .ineens for operating the sand looseneix Fig.

'7 is an end' view of the sand loosener in the bottoni of the 'sand Vbox.- Fig. 8 `is a cen# trai longitudinal section ,view ofthe air dis- Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the charging nozzle. Fig. E) a front elevati-on,

with parts in section, of Athedischarge end of the system, land Fig. 1G is a of a detailI thereof.

' The invention is shown as connected up with the ordinary compressed airl system l0,

perspective -view thedet'ai'ls ot' which will notbe referred to I l herein, as they may be of any ordinaryor well known construction. As is the case with other types of Sanders, this system is provided with a. pipe il, which is for the purpose of operating the sander. ln this.'

.casethis pipe communica-tes with a valve 4casing L?. This casing has a hollow boss or inlet 13A thereon into which the pipe 1l dis charges'. The inain casing is of conical .forni `and is provided with three'outlets 14.

15, and 16. The hollofvvboss 13 has a pair ot' openings 17 and 18 opposite the outlets 14 and l5 respectively. .The conical valve i9 which controls these ports is provided with a spring' 20 for holding it against itsconical seat, the opposite end ot `this spring being heldby a cap 2l screwed into the end of the valv'e casing. This valve provided with two passages 22 and 23, the foi-nier of which in one position offthe valve connects the .ports 1T and 14 and the other'oi' which in another position of the valve connects the valve casingY is previded `with a set of noti-hes -j a rack.

2 around thetop thereofconstitui ing Pivotally mounted on the handle itselt over this socket is a springfpressed latch adapted to engage the teeth of thisvraclt t2?.

and normally hold thefhandle at any' posi tion in which itgis-plaeed by the operator.

At the sainetime on account' ofthespring 4ISO which holds the latch yieldingly in that polsition, thel handle can be turned without any attention on the part of the operator to the 'disengagement of the latch from'the rack. 5 The port 16 is connected with'the port 1S by a passage 29 just about the time this release comes into action. The objects of these connectionsv will appear hereinafter., A box 30 for containing t-he sand or like material 'for increasin the traction between the rails and car- -eels is conveniently locatedin each frontend vestibule ofthe car iso as to be under control of the motorinan. As shown the whole apparatus is located upon the platform near 'the brake-staff` thereof. The cylindrical sheet metal recep-z tacle 30 has around castmetal bottom 31' 33 on a hinge 34. The shaker is .shown in,

'this case as having a handle 35 projecting up through 4the cap which can beoperated to shake the screen. The cap isprovided4 with a door 36 just over-.the screen through lwhich the sand is introduced intothe re ceptacle. v i

The Pport 15 communicates through a pipe 40 with a cylinder 41 and operates a springpressed piston 42. The rod of this pistonjis provided with a reciprocating rack 43. Loose on a `shaft 46 is a'ratchet wheel #t7 with which the rack engages to operate the ratchet wheel on each` mot-ion of the piston. Thisvturns the shaftA by meansof a bal] ratchet 45 fixed thereon.. These parts are covered by aremovable 'casing 4A.

On the shaft are mounted radial arms or 40 pickers 49 inside the cast metal. bottom. The hopperbottoinbeing hemispherical in form the ends of the arms are arranged to come 'the hemispherical surface so as to reach substantially .to the surface of the bottom in all positions of this loosener. The operation oef-*this loosener willbe obvious.

Then in closed'positiom its first operation i is toconnectth'e ports 18 and 15 and `let air into the cylinder 4l'to operate the loosener firstI and loosen up the sand in the bottom of the hopper. `The hopper bottom is shown as provided with a plurality of plugs 51 which can be removed to permit inspection and cleaning. y

The bottom of the hopper discharges into a cast metal vacuum trap or ejector casing 52 which. is secured ldirectly to the nipple cast on the hopper bottom and is provided with a clean-out plugl 52. In the passage` 6 through which the sand descends is located an ordinary steam plug valve' 53 ground cylindrically and having a port therethrough which can be closed by turning the valve pa'rt way around. This is to permit cutting off the sand fromthe hopper from the casing 52 to allow inspection, repairs or the like. The first effect of turning'the valve 19 from its closed position is to 'establish communication between the ports 17 and 14 and allow air to flow through a pipe 54 into a nozzule 55 centrally arranged at the endv latthe 'extreme end it is reduced. at tif-to form? a small outlet port. The `nozzleis provided With a plurality of "conical ele ments 58 all preferably integrally united and each having a plurality of ports 55) all communicating with the passage 5G and ex!- tending at an angle to this passage so as to open in the base of the cone in which they are located.` .These passages are arranged in a circle around thecentral passage and constitute a series of outlet ports conically arranged to permit the air to flow out along the conical surface of the next cone in front and to spreadl it suiciently in each series of `outlets to'cause a substantially continuous conical Jetof air to flow against the sides ofthe casing 52L It will be observed that thls casing 1s contracted at its discharge,

'end in a gradual manner so that it forms a surface converglng toward the ent-rance of its outlet 60. This outlet is secured to a discharge pipe 61 by means of a union elbow 62 located on the floor of the car so that these parts can be disconnected from the discharge without disturbing the lattenor rendering it liable to become loose. The discharge pipe isconnected with a cleanoutcasing 64 which has -a nozzle 65 therein substantially Vlike the nozzle 55. This nozzle 65 is supplied With a momentary blast of air through the pipe 6G and the port '1G just as the valve A19 is closed or opened.

This is for the purpose of cleaning out the discharge hose 67 before and after using.

' The discharge hose 67 is provided with a connection 69 having two opposite outlets 70 divided by a central separator wall 71 which projects 'toward the center of the hose 67 which is supported by springs 80 'and discharges into this fitting. This provides for separating the same intoy two streams and directing them to the two rails. This fitting 69 is provided with a cap 72 which is attached to the main fitting by stove-bolts or the like which can be removed readhy forinspectionl'and repairs. Each. one of theseldivisions discharges through a pipe 73 having an air valve 73a and connected. by an angular fitting or street elbow Tet 'with athreaded end located .on the truck frame under the platform. At the end of this is screwed on, a downwardly depending close coiled spring 77- constituting a dis charge outlet pipe. This spring has several BEST AvAiLALe COPY piace, Wlinteme tact' .Y i lower it vibratie with the motion i to throw oi nioi'stiiie, snow,

Vointions 'of the spring allowl the vair '"i. "to-libe' discharged laterally' between 'r.hein. 'There are, no .spaces between the con-jf vetutions siilicient to permit the sand .to be d afrged, but the'prov-isionof s uch anoutthe air *ata distance above the o iittofthe cnrrent of air and to be on .th,rail simply with the ve- ,fhythe spring.Y Thisis animport-an't 'g Jpcd quietly-on -therails justinfront -hewiheels instead "of blowing it ori-With" current of. air :and scatter-inginiost. Io'f the ein what. has-been said, itffniill-lbelseen.

-. d .fin an :exceedingly siinple land coni' @meer 'with .1Q illlieconibinat'ion with 'a.car, of asand r supported.A abo-vel the floor thereof ai: the top withsaid discharge outlet,.a nozter-ing's'aid casingffor discharging air hreugh horizontally and drawing sand i, said hopper, said .easing having .an mittel', "extending from fthe end. thereof, and pro-vided with a-l disch-arge conduit passing down through-the tloor o f the car and being l 'to the -iloor,and means just above the i for disconnectingtheconduit. The combination with 'a caryofasand hopper supported Y abovethefloor thereof sharge outlet, a`nozzleenteringsaid casg dischargingvair therethrough and fine:

Jing

and a Y discharge esperes-esiti@ 'Combinar mais@ 'isi-e. in assieme this, 'the eh forced through thepipe with the r the sandca'nsesfthe sandto lose its ie to lits 'fall through the conductor :e because-.it '-jcaiises the @sand .to he t hej objects mentioned aboi'reg` are accom- :of constructionfherein" shown andA eving' a discharge outletf-in the bottoni, e -isrizontal v ejector 'casing 'communicating 'd hating'a dischargeoutlet in the'- bottoni, f" sing communicating-aube topwith 'said sand freni said "hopper, ysaid casing4 enduit,4 and Vhaving a.

Biasi AvAiLABLE coPY a tionof a" casing, anozzleprojeci'ing into the casing for discharging air through'ihc casing, a discharge. pipe, a second casing having'an inletcommunicating with said discharge pipe and provided with a discharge outlet', an 'air-blast-- 'nozzle extending into the second casingt-oward its discharge 0nd,

and means for connecting the nozzles with a source ofcoinpressed fair.

l '4. In asanding-'fapparatus,. thel combinatien' of a casing, a nozzle projecting into-the casing,'a discharge pipe, a secondl casing having en inlet communicating with said' discharge pipe and 'provided with a discharge pipe atthe opposite en d thereof,'an

airblast.` 'nozzle extending into the second casing toward Its discharge end, a comofair-willf'he "sentt-hrough the' second nozzle .to clean outth connections'beyond it.-

5. In a sailing apparat'i'is, the coi'nbinal tionpf adcising, la nozzle projecting' into the casing, a' Vdischarge@` pipe, a'second casing -havin. ;.a'n inlet communicating. with said discharge pipe, 'an air blast nozzle' extending into the second casing, a supply pipel for having'a passage for connecting the supply .pipe with the first named nozzle,'and a. passage forc'onne'cting the supply pipe with fthe' second nozzle when 'the lirst nozzle is'.4

about to be shut oii` from conection with the supply pipe.

fp i'es'sed" air siippli7 pipe,lneans for introdu'eing -air into the firstna'ined nozzle'- to- 'discharge a current of. air and 'sand through the'ivfhole` system, vand ,ineans whereby when this' connection. i's` closed, 'ai momentary blast .95 .compressed air, two branch pipes, one con- 'necting each of said nozzles, and a val-ve 6. In" a sanding device, the coinl'iinati'on with' av supplypipe, anda plurality of disin position-to connect thev supply pipe with onedis'chargel pipe when the valve starts'to turn and, for turning off that connection upon the further turning'of the valve, and vmeans for connecting the supply pipe, with another vof sai-d disch-arge pipes at that time, and means whereby after the second connec 4tion has been maintained the turning of the 'Valve to shut it oit will release the pressure therein `and thereafter connect the supplypipe moinentarily'with a third discharge plpe'f `In a' sandingde'vice, the combination with a conical 'Yalvecasing having a supply pipe communicatingtherewith en one side andth'ree discharge pipes 'co'mniiinicatinv "therewith on the other side, fof a conica '--Valve for said casing having afpassage for 'connectingthe supply pipe with one of the discharge pipes, a. passage at an angle theretoi for co'nnecti g the supply. pipe with an A charge pipes, of a 'valve hav'ing a passage' other of' said discharge pipes, and having" arelease, and atliird passage for connecting.l .thejeiippiyA-pipe' withfthe 'third discharge' BEST AVAILABLE COPY pipe when the second passage vis being closed. .l

8. In'a sanding' device, the combination with a conical valve casing having an inlet and three outlets, vof a conical valve for said casing having a non-circular end, and provided with a passage for 'connecting the in- 'let with one of theoutlets, a passage at an angle thereto `for connecting the inlet with another of said outlets and having a release,and a third passage 'for connecting the inlet'with the third outlet when the second passage is being opened or closed, said casing having a notched end, and a handle for operating the valve having a socket for the non-circular end and. provided with a spring-pressed latch for engaging 'the notchedend, whereby the valve will be held in anyposition.-

. 9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a compressed air supply pipe, of a hopper for receiving sand, a rotary loosener for the sand located in the hopper, means for `rotating the loosener, and means connected with said supply pipe for operating the looseiier rotating means when air-is'introduced through the supply pipe.

10. In a sandin device, the combination with a hopper having a discharge outlet, of a casing'located below the hopper and in communication with said discharge outlet, a valve located between'the hopper and casing, whereby the'communication between them -c'anbe shut oii, and a nozzle 'adapted tobe connected with a source of compressed airo r the like projecting into said casing, said casing having an outlet opposite the discharge end of said nozzle.'

11.l In a sand'n'gdevice, the combination with a casing having an `inletat the top thereof and near one end, and a nozzle projecting into said end of the casing beyond the inlet, said casing having an outlet in line with the end of the nozzle, of means for introducing air into said nozzle, and means for loosening the' sand above saidinlet.

12.111 a sanding apparatus, the combina- .tion with a compressed air. supply pipe and a -hopper for receiving the sand, of a' shaft located near' the bottom of the hopper, arms mounted on the shaft, a ball ratchet wheel on the shaft, a reciprocable rack for operating the ratchet wheel, a cylinderadapted toreceive compressed air fromv said pipe,

and' a piston in said cylinder for operating `the rack.

13. In a sanding device, the combination with a' hopper having atop for receiving sand, of a sifter located directly under the top, and pivotcdon' one side thereof and having a handle projecting up through the top for operating it, ajbottom for the hopper having an outlet at the center thereof, and a valve for introducing air below the bottom of the hopper to discharge the Asand therefrom, i

14. -In a sanding device, the combination with a hopperhaving a top for receiving sand, of a sifter located directly under the tp and pivoted on one side thereof and having a handle projecting `up through the '.top for operating it, and afconcavc bottom for the hopper having an outlet at the cen- -ter'thereof and provided with clean out plugs.

15. In a sanding device,th'e combination of va casing having an inlet extending vertica-lly downwardly at one end thereof, a

nozzle projectingin horizontally from the same end of the casing'under the inlet andbeyond it, and anoutlet -in line with vthe nozzle, said nozzle being provided with means for directing a plurality of jets of 'air angularly from the 'axis thereof toward the outlet.

16. In asa-nding device, the combination with a casing having an inlet and an outlet,

of a nozzle projecting ltoward said outlet and extending through the main part of' the casing, said-nozzle being provided with a plurality of conical enlargements arranged end to end and hav-ing discharge orifices ex# {tending through s'id' conical enlargements each in position to discharge the air along the surface of the next conical surface in front.

17. As an article of manufacture, a nozzle for an air blast system having a plurality of conical surfaces arranged end to end in a series, each having discharge orifices in position to discharge the .air along the next conical surface.

. 18. As anvar-ticle of manufacture, a nozzle for an .air blast system having a plurality of conical ,surfaces arranged end to end in a series, eachhaving discharge orifices in position to discharge the air along the next conical surface, and having a discharge orilice in the end and a `passage. up to the last named discharge orificeof larger area than any of said orifices.

1'9. In a sanding apparatus, the combination of a casing, a nozzle projecting into the casing for discharging air through the casing, a discharge pipe, a second casing having an inlet communicating with said discharge pipe .and provided with a discharge outlet, an air blast extending into thefsecond casing' toward its discharge.end,'mea' s for conducting the airand sand away, d for dividing the current and delivering it in two streams, and means-for connecting the nozzles with a source of compressed air.

20. .In a sanding device, the combination with a. pipe for discharging a currentof air and sand, two divisions therefor, and a three-way tting yconnecting said supply pipe with the two divisions and having'a -Wallfor dividing the current of sand and air, said fitting being provided with a removably mounted side constituting subst-ann tially a half of the fitting. v 2].. As an article of manufacture, a discharge nozzle for a sanding device compris` ing a pipe having a coiled spring at the end thereof through which 'the' Sand can be discharged andbetween the coils of which 'the air can escape.. v

22. As an articleof manufacture, a discharge nozzle'for a; sanding device ycomprising' a pipe having depending therefrom a v Witnesses.

coiled spring free at the bottom whereby the sand will be discharged therethrough and the air will Apass between the coils thereof between the convolutions of the spring to cause the said 'sand to lose its velocit)7 due tothe current of air.

In testiinony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing 

